Other side of beauty (book 2 of the Beasties)

Saying Something

The violent shakes won't stop. Liam's eyes pierce me through the dark. I know I can't get out of this without saying something. The look he's giving says so. Liam reaches over to stroke my hair away from my drenched brow. I shrink back, still not ready to be touched. If he was sad or disappointed, I'd never know from his stone etched expression. Sighing I force myself to relax against the headboard. He takes that as a que that I'm ready to talk. "Let's start with, What was your dream about?" Liam asks as he lowers himself down to the floor, rests his back against my bed, than stares at the wall. A random thought strikes me that this must be a wolf thing to appear as less threatening as possible. Believe it or not, I think it's working.

"I appear to have a niece and nephews." I answer unnerved as the memory bombarded my brain again causing me to feel useless, angry and sick, once more.

"Shouldn't that be a happy memory?" He digs.

"I don't know Liam, are your family memories happy?" I retaliate, feeling pushed. Liam is quiet for what seems like forever. We both know that almost all of his family are prime examples of rabid dogs, he's just never given me any details.

"Touché" he whispered. The silence gets beyond awkward.

"I tried to save my niece from impending doom and failed miserably because I had no legal say in the matter." I huffed feeling like a wretch. Liam turns his head to encourage me to go on, but I don't have the guts to. The image of disappointment or disgust on his face pops into my mind. It would shatter my broken soul. So instead I ask a simple question with hope in my heart. "Can you help me find her and her brothers? I promise to forgive you of everything, even the future mistakes, if you help me."

Liam takes a long hard look at the wall. "You feel ready to find out who you were?"

"Were?"

"Sky, people change everyday. To look at who you were through your eyes today could torment yourself. You ready for that?" He eases. I nod a firm "yes". Can't torment me any worse than Wes or Canis had. Liam sighs in resignation, than squares up, straight back into business mode.  "I'll have Penny run your blood samples through the hospital data base. She'll figure out your family from there."

"Why didn't you do that the first day you dragged me into your home like a stray cat?" I asked.

"You looked like you were runn'n from someone. Turns out I was right. Besides, I wanted to wait till you asked, figured you would in your own time." He shrugged off. Suddenly a grin pops onto his scarred but handsome face as he turns toward me. Fireflies decide to zap my system, starting in my stomach. "I'm reckoning you aren't angry with me anymore?" Liam's lopsided grin only grows with my scowl. I try to mentally dowse the pesky bugs, but that just seems to intensify their buzz.

"Don't think you are off the hook with the bite yet, just because I've been vulnerable these past few weeks." I chastised. Liam laughs causing the pests in my stomach to light up. Secretly I look down to be sure that it's all in my head and there really isn't lights emerging from my belly.

Shaking his head Liam gets up to leave. "And don't think this conversation is over." He half teases. Then grows serious "I mean it Sky, the only way to get passed demons is to take away their power. I'm no doctor, but I can help you like Trudy helped me." His voice ending in a soothing whisper. Liam turns to go. I grab his sleeve before he could take a step, than faces me again.

"This whole mate thing" I hesitate for a moment than look him in the eye. "Do you like me because it forces you to or do you like me because I'm growing on you." He has a ponderous look before answering.

"The bond made me take you out of the well, instead of letting you die. As for the liking, that's something that has to grow. I've known natural mates who've hated one another to the end. The mate bond is just an extra push it has nothing to do with real love. Only the souls themselves can decide whether or not they truly love." He chased one of my demons away with his words. Liam smiles softly "I like you a lot Skyler, nothing is going to change that." I smile back slightly, feeling a bit choked up and claustrophobic at the same time. I need space to process everything. Liam seemed to sense it and left with out expecting anything in return.